The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-04-30
On commissioners of Highways Associa
tions, with a DEPRESSION upon
other possible ASSES.


"Why not try your hand at a town or
neighborhood first" was question ono,
asked by a man whose charities began a
home, of another, whose mind was filleC
with schemes of universal benevolence
and was SO engrossed with the wrongs o
the Irish and the Hungarians that he hat
not time to attend to the petty grievance
of the poor in his own neighborhood ant
the oppressed that hung, as it were, abou
his own doorway.
When | read the proceedings, last spring
of the Illinois State Highway Com mission
ers' Association, that meets annually at the
capital, and perused some of the many care
fully prepared and we'll written papers an(
essays that were read upon that occasion
ana the free and general discussion ant
expression of opinion then engaged in, al
tending to the universal improvement o.
our common country roads, and the various
pet schemes and projects thai were sub
mitted for the attainment of that end,
could not help asking the question, to my
self of course, "Why not try your hand Il
a town, or neighborhOed, or a county
tirst?" Why not begin at the beginning
Why not organize neighborhoOd and coun
ty associations, and, if necessary, send dele
gates to the grand Sanhedrim that meets
at Springfield annuslly, instead of, as a
present, inviting every board of road com
missioners throughout the length ant
breadth of the State to send one of theil
number rs a constituent member? Why
not start at the foot and go up head GAG
cdDiid) as we used to do at school, as bes
we could and under difficulties, and no
take our stand at the head and expect t
stay there, unmoved and immovable, DIS
Dnns.ng opinions and suggestions, pre-
pounding questions and answers, and draft
ing meaningless resolutions, TO be voted up
on unanimously by those present, and finally
submitted to the after consideration OF
their constituents at home?
There were several we'll written and well
dig.sted papers read before this Associa
ton on the general subject of road making
containing, however, many common place
ideas that might have been read with equal
benefit TO associations at home.
There were essays on the past and pres
ent condition of our roads, Astounding In
good sense and humor, but Offering nc
tangible solution for the future.
There were other writer's again, who in
resolution or suggestion, certain plans
whereby our present system of road max
ing might be amended, or altered, or done
away with how best taxation might be
imposed upon the people to their own adj
vantage, without being felt by them; how
our convicts might be made to do road
work to pay their keeping; and how appro-
prlations should be made by the Legislature
from certain funds for road purposes that
would be not only unconstitutional but
ridiculous.
Among the leading plans offered for the
solution of the road question there was one
that seems mere plausible than visionary
vet at the same time is as impracticable as
many others that were submitted. speak
of the plan submitted by my friend and
neighbor, Mr.. E. c. Lewis, embodied In an
ably written, honest and comprehensive
paper; and | sympathize with him be-
cause his eye see ms to squint towards the
same line of road that have been advo-
eating; in fact, he and | would be IL the
same district, according to his plan, as far
as We travelled together, but when diver
genCe took place, then there would be a
new episode to our bucOliC theory, whatev-
er that may mean. There might be diff
ference of opinion between us where the
road should strike the Vermillion river,
whether at certain point down or at Ger.
tain other point up, whether it should pass
near his land or through mine.
MIR. Lewis plan, to use his own words, is,
80 80 frame the law that community in
terested in certain line of travel may con.
stitute a road district, without re-
gard to town or county lines" Now, this
plan seems very plausible and reasonable
at irst blush, il | understand him Alright,
and would answer good purpose in build
ing certain lines of travel" by voluntary
contribution, as propose, but not by taxa
ton and appropriation, as he suggests,
This plan reminds me of a political scheme
that had its effect many years ago. 1t was
called the Gerryman!er, after the name of
the inventor and proposed to arrange
counties contiguous TO each other into a
congressional district, so as 10 return a
member of congress of the same party as
Mr.. Gerry.
However we'll this plan might do in ar
ranging counties with congressional dis
uicts, il would hardly co in arranging sec
tions, half and quarter sections, and SOS,
and "cornering" with each 9th
er into road districts.
The gerrymander might extend Itself